These members played together since 1959, first as The Blue Velvets, then as The Golliwogs. Their musical style encompassed the roots rock, swamp rock, and blues rock genres. They played in a Southern rock style, despite their San Francisco Bay Area origin, with lyrics about bayous, catfish, the Mississippi River, and other popular elements of Southern United States iconography, as well as political and socially conscious lyrics about topics including the Vietnam War. The band performed at the 1969 Woodstock Festival in Upstate New York.
The group disbanded acrimoniously in late 1972 after four years of chart-topping success. Tom Fogerty had officially left the previous year, and his brother John was at odds with the remaining members over matters of business and artistic control, all of which resulted in subsequent lawsuits among the former bandmates. Fogerty's ongoing disagreements with Fantasy Records owner Saul Zaentz created further protracted court battles, and John Fogerty refused to perform with the two other surviving members at CCR's 1993 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Creedence Clearwater Revival's music is still a staple of US radio airplay; the band has sold 26 million albums in the United States alone. Rolling Stone ranked them 82nd on its Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time list.
John Fogerty, Doug Clifford, and Stu Cook met at Portola Junior High School in El Cerrito, California. Calling themselves the Blue Velvets, the trio began playing instrumentals and "juke box standards", as well as backing Fogerty's older brother Tom at live gigs and in the recording studio. Tom soon joined the band, and in 1964 they signed with Fantasy Records, an independent jazz label in San Francisco that had released Cast Your Fate To The Wind, a national hit for jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi. The record's success was the subject of a National Educational Television special, which prompted budding songwriter John Fogerty to contact the label. For the band's first release, Fantasy co-owner Max Weiss renamed the group the Golliwogs (after the children's literary character, Golliwogg).
Bandmembers' roles and the instruments they played changed during this period. Stu Cook switched from piano to bass guitar and Tom Fogerty from lead vocals to rhythm guitar; John became the band's lead vocalist and primary songwriter. In Tom Fogerty's words: "I could sing, but John had a sound!".
Commotion
Creedence Clearwater Revival Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No, no, no, no, no
Backed up on the freeway, backed up in the church
Everywhere you look there's a frown, frown
Com, commotion
Git, git, git, gone
Com, commotion
Git, git, git, gone
People keep atalkin', they don't say a word
Jaw, jaw, jaw, jaw, jaw
Talk up in the White House, talk up to your door
So much goin' on I just can't hear
Com, commotion
Git, git, git, gone
Com, commotion
Git, git, git, gone
Hurryin' to get there so you save some time
Run, run, run, run, run
Rushin' to the treadmill, rushin' to get home
Worry 'bout the time you save, save
Com, commotion
Git, git, git, gone
Com, commotion
Git, git, git, gone
Com, commotion
Git, git, git, gone
The lyrics to Creedence Clearwater Revival's song, "Commotion," describe the chaos and noise of city life. The opening lines speak to the overwhelming nature of the city, with traffic and crowds causing a sensory overload that turns the singer's head around. The second verse expands on this sense of chaos, with the mention of the freeway and the church being backed up, and the resulting frowns on people's faces. The refrain of "Com, commotion, git, git, git, gone" emphasizes the urgency and frenzied activity of city life, suggesting that the only way to survive it is to keep moving and not get stuck.
The lyrics also touch on the problem of communication in this kind of environment. Despite all the talking and noise, no one is really saying anything of substance. The verse about people talking in the White House and at your door underscores the idea that even those in positions of power and authority are caught up in the whirlwind of meaningless chatter, unable to cut through the commotion to address real issues.
Finally, the lyrics touch on the idea of time and the importance placed on it in modern society. People are hurrying and rushing to save time, but the singer questions whether the time they save is really worth it in the end. The repetition of "Com, commotion, git, git, git, gone" throughout the song serves as a kind of mantra, a reminder that city life is all about movement and action, and that there's no time to waste.
Line by Line Meaning
Traffic in the city turns my head around
The heavy traffic in the city is quite disturbing
No, no, no, no, no
The singer is trying to refuse or deny something
Backed up on the freeway, backed up in the church
Even traffic is found everywhere, including the exit way from churches
Everywhere you look there's a frown, frown
People are unhappy and dissatisfied wherever you look
Com, commotion
it's a unique sound that summarizes the disorder and noise the artist is talking about
Git, git, git, gone
It's time to leave quickly, hurry up, and get out of here
People keep atalkin', they don't say a word
People keep talking excessively without saying anything meaningful
Jaw, jaw, jaw, jaw, jaw
It's a non-verbal sound indicating people keep talking drama without action
Talk up in the White House, talk up to your door
It refers to leaders who talk exclusively without any changes or actions
So much goin' on I just can't hear
There is much noise and disturbance, denying the artist the opportunity to think or act comprehensively
Hurryin' to get there so you save some time
Hurry up to save some time, sacrificing the current moment without being present
Run, run, run, run, run
It's a repetition of sounds indicating the hurry and speed the artist is calling for
Rushin' to the treadmill, rushin' to get home
People are always in a hurry, running to the next task without enjoying anything that feels present
Worry 'bout the time you save, save
People are always worrying about saving time instead of enjoying the moment itself.
Com, commotion
Again, returns to the main theme of noise and chaos
Git, git, git, gone
The solution or the only way to end the chaos, hurry up, and leave.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: John Cameron Fogerty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Niv Sulimani
LYRICS:
Traffic in the city turns my head around.
No, no, no, no, no.
Backed up on the freeway, backed up in the church,
Ev'rywhere you look there's a frown, frown.
[Chorus:]
Com, commotion,
Git, git, git, gone.
Com, commotion,
Git, git, git, gone.
People keep atalkin', they don't say a word.
Jaw, jaw, jaw, jaw, jaw.
Talk up in the White House, talk up to your door,
So much goin' on I just can't hear.
[Chorus]
Hurryin' to get there so you save some time.
Run, run, run, run, run.
Rushin' to the treadmill, rushin' to get home,
Worry 'bout the time you save, save.
[Chorus]
Gugiri
The most underrated and uknown song of one of the greatest band of all time.
Susan Hudak
What a huge talent. Love that fuzz time on the guitar.
Dallas Noble
These guys are gonna make it big
Bako
Their last song was released in the 70s lol. They haven't made a song in 50 years.
And they're already well loved.
D R
@Bako fake news this song is from 2023
Random comment
Sure will! Great talents. 🎉
Michelle Hawkins
When I Was Growing Up I Didn't Pay Attention to The Lyrics to Most of These Songs Except the Main Choruses. Very Powerful Messages.
Annie Lanham
Same here, as a kid of maybe 5 or 7, those great melodies caught even Young kids attention!!! I LOVED have you ever seen the rain back as a kid
carlos baroni
Show da minha época, inesquecível
AthleteMusician
One of the greatest bands of the 1960s and the best group to perform at the Woodstock Festival 1969.